California-Based Diagnostic Lab Relocating to Round Rock

A California-based bioscience company is relocating its clinical lab facility and an initial 100 employees to Round Rock.

Singulex, a diagnostics technology company, announced Thursday it is relocating its clinical laboratory facility from Alameda, California, to Round Rock. The new facility, Veridia Diagnostics, will employ about 100 people when it opens, Singulex officials said.

The company will move into an existing 36,000-square-foot facility at 106 Old Settlers Blvd. near Round Rock Toyota and Round Rock Honda. The company has signed a 5-year lease for the facility.

Guido Baechler, Singulex president and CEO said a high quality of life, strong public education, health care infrastructure and affordable housing led the company to choose Round Rock.

“For us we looked at a variety of areas and we found Round Rock has a very nice infrastructure,” he said. “Since we are in a health care space, it’s nice to have a lot of hospitals around and institutions.”

The Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine in Round Rock was also a draw. “As we expand that employee pool, we need to make sure there’s the right resources around (the lab facility),” he said.

The lab will provide the company with much needed additional space for growth and expansion, and in turn create more job opportunities for the area.

The clinical diagnostics lab will test blood samples for physicians around the nation, with about 170 different tests currently offered, Baechler said. Several thousand samples are tested each week, he said.

Some employees are expected to make the move to Round Rock, while others will be new local hires, he said.

Mayor Craig Morgan said the city is honored to have Singulex relocate to Round Rock.

“I think it says a lot about what we have to offer in Round Rock with a strong education system (and) health care system,” he said. “At one time, Round Rock had one hospital and now we’re seeing the health care industry grow before our eyes.”

After modifying the facility, Singulex is expected to begin moving equipment into the building in September with lab operations beginning by the end of the year. The company worked with the Round Rock Chamber for six months in the relocation.

“The future of the bioscience sector is strong in Round Rock, and we are thrilled that Singulex chose our community,” said Ben White, Round Rock Chamber economic development vice president.

Chamber officials expect the project to come before the Round Rock City Council in the next few months. Some incentives will be offered with company’s move, but Chamber officials could not yet disclose details.

Morgan said any incentives offered will require council approval.

In January, the Chamber offered an incentive agreement to bring a $20 million Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center and at least 60 jobs to the city. Per the agreement, 57 percent of the hotel occupancy tax generated by the hotel will be rebated back to Stonemill each quarter for the first 10 years, or up to $4 million, whichever comes first, White had said.